BYD Overtakes Tesla as World’s Top EV Seller in 2025
Chinese automaker BYD has dethroned Tesla as the world's largest electric vehicle seller, delivering 2,256,704 all-electric vehicles in 2025—a milestone marking its first full-year victory in the global EV race. Total passenger vehicle sales reached 4.54 million units, an 8% year-over-year increase.
December saw a seasonal slowdown with 414,784 deliveries, down from November's 474,921. Meanwhile, Chinese rivals Leapmotor and Xpeng gained traction with affordable models, while Li Auto's shipments declined.
BYD's overseas expansion accelerated dramatically, with annual exports surpassing 1 million vehicles—a 150% surge—culminating in a record 132,837 units shipped in December alone. Tesla, by contrast, is projected to report approximately 1.7 million deliveries for 2025, a slight dip from its 2024 total.
The shift reflects BYD's strategic focus on budget-friendly EVs and its dominant positioning within China's thriving electric vehicle market.